Habitat and Habits: Prefers open savanna and arid habitats, especially areas of limited groundcover, scattered trees and bushes, and along streams. Spends much time perched on a telephone pole or a bush, or sitting on the ground. Usually found singly or in pairs, but occasionally in family groups of five or more. This species prefers more arid habitat than the Dark Chanting-goshawk, and their ranges overlap only marginally. more....

Food and Feeding Behavior: Feeds on hares, rodents, birds, snakes, lizards, and insects. Dives or runs after prey, or makes aerial chases, especially of hares. Also takes carrion, including road kills. Most hunting is from an exposed perch from which the bird glides down to take the prey on the ground, sometimes completing the chase on foot. Occasionally quarters low over the ground like a harrier and sometimes rests on the ground and walks around in search of prey (Penry 1994). more....

Breeding: In southern Africa, the breeding season starts in July-August, peaks in October-November, and tapers off in May (Malan 1997). The stick nest, which is lined with dung, rags, wool, and other foreign matter, is placed in the upper fork of a thorny tree or on a utility pole. The nest is occasionally re-used during the following season. Clutch size is usually two, and the eggs are white and unmarked. Only the female incubates. The incubation period lasts for 37 days, and generally only one chick survives to the end of the nestling period, which lasts seven to eight weeks (Tarboton 1990). This species does not breed in some very dry years, but in wet years, two broods may be attempted (Biggs et al. 1984). Biggs et al. (op cit.1984) reported polyandry in this species in Namibia, but regarded it as uncommon and likely to occur during periods of poor feeding conditions. more....

Conservation: Widespread and common throughout its range, which is confined mostly to southern Africa. Maritz et al. (2000) listed potential threats as pesticides sprayed during locust plagues, collisions with powerlines, shooting, as a result of predation on domestic fowl, and drowning in farm reservoirs. Categorized as a species of "Least Concern" by BirdLife International.

Population Estimates: Maritz et al. (2000) estimated the global population as more than 10,000 breeding pairs, with 400-900 pairs in the former Transvaal and more than 1,200 breeding pairs in the Northern Cape Province.

Current Research: Sightings of Southern Pale Chanting Goshawks with colored rings engraved with alphanumeric codes in South Africa should be reported to Gerard Malan at malan@tut.ac.za or 083-332-1589.